Game device



Oct. 18, 1927. 46.095

T. J. JUNKER GAME DEVICE Filed March 18; 1927 i 19 8 43' 6 44 41 mm 3 M 24 INVENTOR. 7710mm? ('ZC/W'zln BY 1 y ATTORNEY.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. J UN KER, OF WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME DEVICE.

Application filed March 18, 1927. Serial No. 176,481.

This invention relates generally to games, and has more particular reference to an improved game device embodying a horizontal target onto which a small flat projectile or game piece of conducting material is adapted to be tossed or thrown, the target having electrical contacts adapted to be bridged by the game piece, when the latter is successfully thrown to come to rest at a proper position on the target, for closing the circuit of an electrical signal or indicator by means of which the successful throw is announced.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a game device of the above kind, the use of which will prove both interesting and amusing because of the elements of both skill and chance involved in attempts to make a successful throw or toss, the latter being rewarded by a suitable prize or score, as desired.

A further object is to provide an improved game device or target of the above kind which is extremely simple and durable in construction as well as capable of being readily and cheaply manufactured, assembled and placed into use.

Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a form of target embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Figure 1, partly broken away;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section takendsubstantially upon line 3-3 of Figure 1; an

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram of the target and an associated annunciator and source of electricity.

v, Referring more in detail to the drawing,

the embodiment of the invention illustratedi comprises a supporting panel or board=5 of? insulating, material suitably rigidly mounted in a horizontal position and having a fiat plate of conducting material 6 secured upon the upper surface thereof, as by means of screws or bolts 7 passing through appropriate spaced portions of the conducting plate 6 and entering the panel 5. Also secured to the under surface of the panel 5 is e a second conducting plate 8 which is disposed directly beneath the plate 6 and secured in place by means of screws 9 or the like.

As shown clearly in Figure 3, the panel 5 and the plates 6 and 8 are provided with a series of vertically aligned or registered openings 10, 11 and 12, respectively, the open ings 10 and 11 in the panel 5 and upper plate 6 being of similar diameter and larger than the openings 12 in the lower plate 8, and the openings 12 having the walls thereof threaded for removable reception of the threaded lower ends of cylindrical contact plugs 13 formed of a suitable conducting metal. The contact plugs 13 projectthrough the panel 5 and into the openings 11 of the upper plate 6, and terminate at their upper flat ends flush with the upper surface of the late 6 as shown, suitable insulating bushlngs 14 being fitted on the upper ends of the contact plugs 19 and within the openings 10 and 11 of the panel 5 and plate 6 so as to effectively insulate the contact plugs 13 from the plate 6, in an obvious manner.

The threaded lower ends of the contact plugs 13 project below the lower conducting plate 8 and have jam nuts 15 threaded thereon and against the under surface of the plate 8 so as to effectively fix the contact plugs 13 in proper position against accidental turning. It will thus be apparent that all of the contact plugs 13 are electrically connected, and suitable imam swil as the binding post screw 16 may be provided for attaching one end of a conductor 17 to the lower conducting plate 8.

()ne of the bolts 7 may pass completely through the panel 5 and out of contact with the plugs 13 and lower plate 8, and so as to have a projecting lower endfor receiving a washer l8 and a nut 19 between which the end of a further conductor 20 may be secured. Thus, the connections of the conductors to the plate 6 and plugs 13 are made at the underside of thetarget so as to not be exposed to view, and withthe conductor 17 extending to onev side. of an electrical an- ;nunciator or bell 21, and the conductor 20 extending to one side of, a, battery or other source of electricity 22 whoseother side is connected by a conductor 23 with the other side of the annunciator or bell 2 1, the latter will be placed in a circuit which is normally open but capable of being closed for actuation of the bell when the plate 6 and one of the plugs 13 is bridged b a conducting element. In Figure 4, 6 esignates the portions of the plate 6 immediately adjacent to and surrounding the plugs 13, while the inner circle designates generally the plate 6 and the outer circle designates generally the lower conducting plate 8.

In view of the above it will be seen that when a small fiat projectile or disk-like game piece of conducting material, such as a penny is tossed onto the contact plate 6 so as to come to rest at a position to bridge one of the plugs 13 and an adjacent portion of the plate 6, the circuit of the annunciator 21 will be closed and the latter will be actuated to indicate or announce the successful throw. The game piece or penny is indicated in bridging position by dotted lines at 24 in Figures 1 and 3, and it will be seen that the spacing of the openings 11 in the upper plate 6 and the corresponding spacing of the contact plugs 13 is of a greater distance than the diameter of the game piece 24 so that the latter may come to rest at many points on the target surface or the surface of the plate 6 without bridging the latter and one of the contact plugs. In view of this fact it requires considerable skill and some element of chance to cause the game piece to come to rest in a bridging position for causing actuation of the annunciator. It is of course to be understood that the player will stand a suitable distance from the target in tossing the game piece or penny so that a certain amount of skill will necessarily be required in effecting a successful toss of the game piece for actuation of the annunciator.

In view of the above it will be seen that the present device will be of a character especially suitable for use in public places of amusement, the device bein capable of installation by a concession ho der at this place who may offer a suitable prize for anyone making a successful toss, the particular prize depending upon the particular plug engaged by the game piece when the latter bridges a plug and the plate 6 for causing actuation of the annunciator 21.

Minor changes may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is 1. A game target of the character described comprisin a horizontal panel of insulating materia, a conducting plate secured on the upper surface of 'said panel, said panel and late having a plurality of spaced pairs 0 vertical alined openings,

contact plugs mounted in the openings and an having their upper ends flush with the u per surface of the conducting plate and insu ated from the latter, and a second conductin plate secured to the under side of the pane and carrying said plugs.

2. A game target of the character described comprising a horizontal panel of insulating material, a conducting plate so cured on the upper surface of said panel, said panel and plate having a plurality of spaced pairs of vertical alined openings, contact plugs mounted in the openin and having their upper ends flush with this upper surface of the conducting plate and insulated from the latter, a second conductin plate secured to the under side of the pane and carryin said plugs, the lower ends of the )lugs being threaded through the second con ucting plate, and jam nuts threaded onto the lower ends of the plugs against the under side of the second plate.

3. A game target of the character described comprising a horizontal anel of insulating material, a conducting pl ate secured on the upper surface of said panel, said panel and plate having a plurality of spaced pairs of vertical alined openings, contact plugs mounted in the openin s and having their upper ends flush with 5m upper surface of the conducting plate and insulated from the latter, and a game piece embodymg a disk of conducting material adapted to bridge any one plug and the adjacent portion of the conducting plate and having a diameter less than that ofthe spaces between the plugs.

4. A game target of the character described comprisin a horizontal panel of insulatingmateria, a conducting plate secured on the upper surface of said panel 100 said panel and plate having a plurality of spaced pairs of vertical alined openings, contact plugs mounted in the openings and having their upper ends flush with the 11 per surface of the conducting late and insu ated 1 from the latter, means e ectrically connectmg the lower ends of the plugs beneath the panel and having means to connect a conductor thereto and a conducting member attached to and depending from the conduct- 0 ing plate and'extending through the panel, said conducting member havin means to attach a conductor to the same neath the panel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa- 115 ture.

THOMAS J. J UNKER. 

